Christy earned her doctorate in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University in 2002, where she worked on numerous studies related to parenting, family relationships, and child development. After almost two decades as a parent educator and school consultant, she earned her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work at University of Washington and completed internships at Wellspring Family Services and Cadence Child and Adolescent Therapy. As a researcher, Christy has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on parenting, child development, poverty, early intervention, and public policy. As an educator, Christy believes in empowering parents with knowledge that enables them to understand each developmental stage of their child’s life and the challenges that often emerge at those times. She has worked with parents, teachers, and schools individually, in groups, and as a featured speaker. As a therapist, Christy uses evidence-based practice in her work with children and adolescents who may be experiencing anxiety, OCD, trouble with emotions or difficulties with friendships. Christy is trained in numerous parent-focused treatments, including Kazdin’s Parent Management Training (PMT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), Social, Emotional, and Academic Competence for Children and Parents (SEACAP), Positive Discipline, and Gottman’s Bringing Baby Home. She is also trained in evidence-based mental health treatments for children and adolescents, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP).
What Dr. Brady Smith would like you to know about her:
It brings me great joy working with children, adolescents, and parents. As a mom of three teenagers, I understand the challenges of parenting and have a front row seat to what children and teens are facing right now. My job is to listen to you and learn about what is important to you and what is getting in the way of reaching your goals. Although therapy can be challenging, I bring fun and curiosity to our time together to create a nonjudgmental environment (either virtual or in person) where we work on your current challenges to create a more hopeful future.
